Motor control



April 27,1943. w. E. MEN-215s Em; v2,317,630

MQTOR CONTROL Filed Nv. 4, 193s L @EL .65 74 ALM es a 203 Ml @i ATroRNEY lPatented Apr. 27, 1943 Moron coNrnoL William E. Menzies and Calvin J. Werner, Dayton, Ohio, assignors to General Motors Corporation, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Dela- Application November 4, 1939, Serial No. 302,799

15 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in control devices for electric motors and particularly for electric motors used to drive refrigeration apparatus.

It is among the objects of the present invention to provide the driving motor of a refrigerating apparatus with an automatic control device which is adapted to control 'the operation of said motor in accordance with the varying temperatures of a part of said refrigerating apparatus, for instance, the evaporator thereof.

A further object of the present invention is to provide the control device with a manually operable mechanism capable of adjusting the device to render the electric motor inoperative until the evaporator of the rerigerating apparatus is com'- pletely defrosted at which time the higher ternperature therecfwill effectl operation of the device to again render the motor operative.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description. reference being had to the accompanying drawing wherein a preferred embodiment of the present invention is clearly sho-Wn.

'In the drawing:

Fig. l is a diagrammatic view illustrating one form of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 provided however with an additional defrcsting mechanism;

Fig. 3 illustrates the control device with still another form of automatic defrosting mechanlsm;

Fig. l illustrates the control switch and deirosting mechanism of Fig. 3 in another position.

Referring to the drawing and particularly to Fig. l, the motor which drives the refrigerating apparatus is designated by the numeral' 2%. This 'motor 2@ is to be controlled in accordance with varying temperatures of the evaporator 2|, shown in dotand-dash line. The motor 20 has a starting winding 22 and a running winding 23; the one end of the starting winding 22 is joined with the one end of the running winding 23 at the point A. wire 25, electrically connected with the windings 22 and 23 at the point 24, leads to the one movable contact 26 of the switch 21, which. when closed, is adapted to connect Wire 25 with the one power supply line 28. Another end of the starting winding 22 has a wire 29 connected thereto which leads to a condenser 30, then to the stationary contact 3| of the control switch 40. The other stationary contact 32 of this control switch has a wire 33 leading therefrom which wire is connected to the end of the running winding 23.

The motor control switch 40 comprises a main body portion 4| pivotally carried by the pin 42. This switch has two notches 43 and 44 providing seats for the contact arms 45 and 46 respectively. Contact'arm 45 has a contact 41 adapted to cooperate with stationary contact 3|. A spring 48 interposed between arm 45 and a pin 4E] on the switch body 4| will quickly flip arm 45 in one direction or the other to engage either the stationary contact 3| or stop pin 50, dependent upon the direction of rotation of the switch body 4l, upon its pivot pin 42. Contact arm d@ has a contact 5| adapted to engage contact 32, said switch arm 46 being flipped toward contact 32 or toward the stationary stop pin 52 by spring 53 interposed between arm 46 and the anchor pin 54 onswitch body 4|.

The body 4| of the switch 49 has two oppositely disposed ears 55 and 56. A spring 51 has its stationary contact 3| by spring 48 into engagement with the stop pin 5D after which arm 4S will. be moved by its spring 53 out of engagement with its stationary contact 32 into contact with the stop pin 52. Thus it may be seen that under the effect of the spring 51 switch body 4| is moved successively to break. rst the starting circuit of the motor, then the running circuit thereof.

The other ear 55 or" switch body 4| has one end of a thermo-electric element electrically cohnected therewith, the opposite end of this element being secured to one end 62 of the lever 63 which lever is pivoted substantially centrally at its hub 64. A wire 65, connected to the lever 63 at the end 62, is also electrically connected to thermo-electric element 60. This wire @5 leads A -gagement with said seat by a thrust block 1| urged into engagement .with the hub 64 by a spring 12 interposed between said thrust block 1| and a stationary wall 13 of the device. A thumb screw 14 in the stationary wall 'i0 provides a stop for 'said element at the end 62 of lever 63.

lever 14 and may be adjusted to limit the clockwise movement of said lever.

The end of lever 63 opposite end 62 is designated by the numeral 15. To this end of lever 63 is connected one end of thermo-electric element 16, the opposite end of which is secured to via the body 4|, thermal element 60, wire 65 and movable contact S6 of the switch 21. The start- Y ing and running circuits of the motor being completed will cause said motor to operate and drive the refrigerating apparatus. The rst surge of the starting current through the thermoa thumb screw 11 adjustably carried by the stal has a primary winding y86, one end of which is4 connected to the wire through the lead wire 81, the .opposite end being connected to wire 65 through the wire 88.

'Ihe thermal switch 85 is in juxtaposition +o the evaporator 2| so that the bimetallic contact arm 90 of said switch will be affected by the ambient temperature of said evaporator. One end of the heater coil 84 is electrically connected with said contact arm 98. This contact arm supports a contact 9| adapted to cooperate with stationary contact 92 which has a wire 93 leading therefrom and electrically connected to thermo-electric element 16 at the point 94.

Thevthermo-electric elements 60 and 16 ccnnected to the respective ends 62 and 15 of the lever 63 are adapted to Acontrol or actuate the switch in accordance with and in response to current flow through said elements. The thermoelectric element 6|) attachedl to the ear 56 of the switch body 5| opposes the effort of spring 51 to rotate said switch body clockwise. Normally these elements 60 and 16 maintain the switch body 4| in the position as shown in Fig. 1, so that the arms and 46 of said switch di) are in a position to cause engagement of their contacts 31 land 5| with the respective stationary contacts 3| and 32 of said switch. A predetermined current fiow through either one of these lthermo-electric elements 69 or 16 will result in heating up and consequent expansion thereof, thus permitting the spring 51 to become eiTective to rotate switch body di clockwise to break said contact engagements and thus render the motorlinoperative. If, when the switch 40 is in the position as shown in Fig. 1, and the main switch 21 is closed so that its movable contacts 26 and 66 engage the power supply lines 28 and 68 respectively, the motor circuits will be completed as follows: Current will ow from the supply line 28 through movable contact 26 of switch 21 across wire 25 to the point 25 where a divided flow will obtain. One circuit from point 24 leads through the starting winding 22, through wire 29 and condenser 3|) to the stationary contact 3| of switch 46. From contact 3| the current will flow through contact 41 and its arm 45 to the body 4| of the switch 40, thence through the thermoelectric element to the wire 65 connected with From wire the circuit will be completed through the movable contact 66 of switch 21 to the opposite power supply line 68. This completes the circuit through the starting winding of the motor 20. The other part of the divided circuit flows from point 24 through the running winding 23, wire 33 to the stationary contact 32, thence through the movable contact 5| engaging contact 32, arm 46 and thence back to the power supply line 68 electric element 60 is substantially large and thus will cause it to become heated and expand to a predetermined degree.V Expansion of this elementy 60 permits spring 51 to become effective to rotate switch body 4| clockwise about its pivot pin 42 and when this rotation is permitted for a.

^ predetermined distance contact arm 45 will suddenly be flipped counterclockwise by its spring 48 so that contact 41 is disengaged from contactA 3|. and arm 45 will be moved into engagement with the stop pin 50. Now it maybe seen that the circuit through the starting winding 22 is broken while yet the circuit through the running winding 23 is maintained. The flow of current through the thermo-electric element 60 for ordinary motor operation will not be suciently high to cause increased heating and further expansion of element 66 and consequently spring 51 will not become effective to'rotate switch body 4| suiciently t0 disengage contact 5| from the contact 32. However, if, under any circumstances the motor 20 is overloaded or is stalled, then an,

abnormal flow of current through the running winding and also thermo-electric element 60 will obtain resulting in a greater heating up thereof and a consequent greater expansion. This increased expansion of element 6|) due to the increased current ow therethrough will permit spring 51 further to actuate switch body 4| clockwise about its pivot pin 42 so that the contact arm 66 will be iiipped by its spring 53 into engagement with the stop pin 52, breaking the motor circuit across contacts 32 and 5|. Thus it may be seen that thermo-electric element 60 controls the starting circuit and also provides a protective device adapted to render the motor entirely inoperative if and when said motor is subject to abnormal operating conditions.

The switch 40 of theA present invention is adapted not only to control the starting and running of the motor in accordance with motor conyditions, but it also is adapted. to control said motor in response to and in accordance with variations in temperature ambient to the evaporator 2i of the refrigeration apparatus. When the temperature ambient to said evaporator 2| reaches or drops' below the chosen reference temperature of l40 F., contact arm 9G will flex so that'it urges its contact 9| into engagement with the contact 92 thus completing the circuit including the thermo-electric element 16, the secondary winding 8| of the transformer 82 and the heater coil 84 of thermal switch 85. Under these circumstances, this circuit will remain closed until the heater coil 84 radiates suncient heat to overcome the eiect of the lower ambient temperature and thereby cause flexing of the thermo-element or strip so that vits contact 9| will be moved from engagement with contact 92 to break the circuit. Now thermo-element or strip 90 may cool and again flex to close said circuit, This operation of the thermo-element 90'is repeated, providing for intermittent closing and opening of this control circuit. When the closing intervals of contacts 9| and 92 are of suicient duration due to lowering temperature ambient to the evaporator 2|, the current flow through the circuit will heat up the thermo-electric element 16 and cause its expansion. The effort of spring 51 ene tending to rotate switch body 4| clockwise, will exert a pull on the thermo-electric element 60 and a consequent pull on the end 52 of lever B3. This will take up the slack in element 16, caused by its expansion and thus, if such expansion is sufficient, spring 51 may actuate switch body 4| to cause flipping oi contact arms 45 and 46 to open their respective starting and running circuits of the motor, thereby rendering the motor inoperative and stopping refrigeration. Now the evaporator nay warm up and its ambient tem# perature rise.

When the temperature ambient to the evaporater and thus at the control or thermal switch 85 increases, the thermal element 9@ of Said switch will be aiected to decrease the energy passing through the circuit including switch 35 and. the thermo-electric element 1t. As this rgy level reaches the reset value o switch liti, thermelectric elements SB and 155 will again be effective "to actuate switch 40 to close the motor circuits and reestablish refrigeration.

lin order to vary the reference temperature so that the evaporator 2l will operate cooler if de red, adjusting nut 11 is actuated to shorten the tl rmomelectric element 155 thereby requiring o greater current for a. longer period oi time to said thermo-electric element sulcientl'y" to permit it to expand to the proper switch tripping length. On the other hand if a higher temperature is desired at the evaporator the adjusting screw 11 will be released, thus lengthening 'the thermo-electric element 16.

Lever has its hub 64 hingedly secured between the stationary seat 1 and the yieldably supported thrust-block 1 i. Spring 12 urges block 1i against the hub t4 of 'lever 63, the strength of the spring 12 being such that it will maintain a predetermined normal stress upon the elements Si. and However, if the operator actuates the adjusting nut 11, tending to shorten the thermoeiectric element 1S, spring 12 would yield and permit the huh supporting block 1| to move downwardly in response to such adjustment of nut 11 before any harmful stretching of the element 1b would result. From this it may be seen that the reference temperature at the evaporator 2| may be varied by adjusting nut or screw 11. If this screw is actuated to shorten the element 16 and consequently exert an increased tension on the element til more current flow through these elements is necessary to provide suicient expansion thereof to permit spring 51 to actuate the switch 40 into the motor circuit breaking position. If the element 18 requires a greater current flow through it to heat it up sufllciently so that it may expand and permit actuation of the switch 4B, then naturally the period of closure of contacts 9| and 92 must be increased. As has been stated, contacts Si and 92 engage by exing element 90 in response to lowering temperatures ambient to the evaporator 2i and therefore to increase the contact-making interval the ambient temperature must necessarily be of a lowering degree. It may readily be seen that increased tension of the thermo-electric element 1B will require increased contact-making interval to provide the necessary energy sufficiently to warm up said thermo-electric element so that it can expand and permit operation of the switch 40 to control the motor circuits.

Fig. 2 illustrates another form of the present invention. It differs only from that shown in Fig.A 1, in that here an automatic control for detrosting purposes is provided. All other control devices and their circuits are, hcwevenubstantially identical. lIn Fig. 2, lever 63 :loes not have its hub 64 yieldably supported as in Fig. l, but on the contrary said hub S4 may be carried by any suitable stationary portion of the device. The parts and circuits oi Fig. 2 identical with the parts and circuits of Fig. l are given the same reference numerals.

The defrosting control mechanism of Fig. 2, comprises a lever it@ pivoted at the point iti. A spring |02, interposed` he'ween the lever HW and a stationary part it ofthe mechanism urges the lever clockwise so that a portion thereof engages the stationary stop inernoer |34 when said lever is in normal position. ln adjustable screw mi carried by the stationary portion it of the mech anisrn provides a stop member for the lever, lirniting its movement in a counteroloch wise direction. An adjustable screw itl is c rieti by the lever itl?) and forms anch for one end oi the thermo-electric element c Fig. 2, the opposite end of said element being elece trically connected one end of the secondary coil 8i of transformer 82. The switch :T15 of this Fig. 2 has a depending lug lit. il: wardly extending angular end iii of leve lies in the path oir movement of the lug i ifi lever itil is in its normal position. NorY spring iti?, urging lever itil against stop causes said lever to exert a predetermined tei sion upon the therrnwelectric element 1%. element, acting through lever S3, the said exerts normal tension upon the thermo-electric eleu ment Sii of the switch d. Under these normal conditions automatic control of the motor 2t in accordance with temperatures ambient to the evaporator 2| as previously described is obtained.y

Prolonged use of the refrigeration apparatus generally results in frosting of the evaporator. This frosting on the evaporator may be eliminated by stopping the motor and discontinuing refrigeration. To defrost, the operator exerts a pressure upon the right end of the lever itil mov`= ing said lever counterclockwise until it engages the stop screw |05. This counterclockwise movement of lever itil removes its angular end iii out of the path of movement of the lug iii) of switch 40. It also causes slaokening of the thermoelectric element lt and consequently the thermoelectric element Sli. Slackening of element 63 permits spring 51 to become effective to rotate the switch 4i clockwise causing the contact arms 45 and 46 of the switch to be moved to circuit open positions where they will engage their respective stop pins 59 and 52 and thus render the motor inoperative.

rotate switch body 4| clockwise through a greater range than normally, in fact it may rotate the body of the switch until its lug H0 will engage stop pin U2. Release now, of the lever by the operator will not permit it to return to normal position for the end of its angular portion I i l will engage with and ride upon the end of lug I i0 on the switch body, thus holding said lever |00 in the defrosting position in which elements 60 and 18 are properly siacked.

The refrigeration cycle now being discontinued due to the motor being rendered inoperative, evaporator 2| will gradually grow Warmer and as the temperature ambient thereto rises to and above the reference temperature contact-carrying-bimetallic strip 90 will ex to move its contact 9| out of engagement with the cooperating contact 92 to break the circuit through the thermo-electric element 16. Now the element 16, not subjected to heat due to current flow therethrough will cool and contract. Eventually thermo-.electric element 16 willcool suiciently to cause a contraction therein which will result in a pull upon the lever 63 to move it clockwise about its hub 6d. Clockwise movement of lever 63 must necessarily tension thermo-electric element 60 resulting in a rotation of the switch body Bl counter-clockwise about its pivot pin 42 and a reclosing of contacts l1-3| and 5|32 to establish motor operation. Such rotation of the switch body 4| will move the lug H0 thereof from engagement with the end surface of the angular portion of lever |00. When this occurs spring |02 will quickly move the lever |00 into its normal position as shown in Fig. 2 in which the lever will again engage the stop member or block |00.' Now the lever under the effect of spring |02, will again normally tension element 76 and by acting through lever 63, said element 76 will lproperly tension the thermo- 4element 60 for normal motor operative control.

I Naturally screws |05 and |01 are so adjusted that the refrigeration cycle is reestablished only after the evaporator 2| has been properly defrosted.

The control mechanism illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4 ls substantially identical with that shown in Fig. 2, the only diierence being in the defrosting control mechanism.

The defrosting control mechanism of Figs. 3 and 4 comprises a lever 200 pivoted at its one end at the point 20|. The thermo-electric element I6 of Figs. 3 and 4 has one end attached to the lever 200, the other end to the lever 63. Beneath the lever 200 there is provided an'adjustable stop screw 202 threadedly carried by any suitable stationary part 203 of the mechanism. A spring 20.l interposed `between lever 200 and a stationary part 205 of the mechanism normally urges the lever 200 into engagement with the adjustable stop screw 200 thereby tending to stretch the thermo-electric element 16, this tension being variable by the adjustment of the screw 202. An extension 206 on the lever 200 has a portion 207 adapted to be engaged by'a hump 208 in the detent strip 209 as will be described. This detent strip 209 has its one end anchored to the rigid pivot pin 02 of the switch 00. A second hump 2|0 in said strip and adjacent its outer free end normally rests upon the inner cylindrical end 2|! of defrosting button 2|2, which has its main body portion 2|3 slidably supported in a stationary portion 2|0 of the device. An annular groove 2|5 is provided between the body portion 2|3 and the cylindrical portion 2li of the defrosting button.

` The switch body portion ll has a depending lug 2|6 which-moves beneath the plane of the detent strip 209. However, lug ZIB has an angular extension 2li projected upwardly so as to engage said detent strip 209'when the switch body 15| is in normal position as shown in Fig. 3. Normally then detent strip 209 is held so that its hump 203 is not engageable with the portion 20'! of lever 200, the angular extension 2|'| of lever 200 of body lug ZIB holding it in this position as Well as the hump 2|0 of strip 209 resting upon the cylindrical portion 2H of the defrosting button. When the defrosting button is in normal position its inner end merely touches the extension 206 of the lever 200. Under these conditions normal tension is main- .tained on the thermo-electric elements 00 and 'IS of Fig.` 3, permitting them to perform their normal function of motor control in accordance with variations in the temperature ambient to the evaporator 2|.

If it is desired to defrost, the attendant pushes upon the defrster button 2|2 from the position shown in Fig. 3 into the position shown in Fig. 4. By so pushing the defroster button 2|2 lever 200 is moved clockwise about its pivotal point 20| so that it will engage the stop pin 220 in which position the portion 201 of said lever is adapted to be engaged and retained by the hump portion `208 of the detent strip 209. This operation of the button 2|2 also places the annular groove 2|5 in alignment with hump 2|0 providing a space into which said hump may fit as shown in Fig. 4. The shifting of lever 200 clockwise until the stop pin 220 is engaged, slackens the thermo-electric element '|6. The thermal element 60 will therefore also be slackened for both elements 60 and 16 are mechanically connected through the pivoted lever 63. This slackening of element 60 permits the switch spring 51 of Fig. 3 to become effective to rotate switch body 4| clockwise about its stationary pivot pin 42, thus ,moving the extending lug portionr 2H of the switch body away from the detent strip 209. Now said detent strip may move so that its hump 208 will engage and retain portion 207 of the lever 200 to hold said lever in this `operated position. At the same time hump `2|!) will have entered the annular groove 2|5 of the defrosting button 2|2 to hold said button in this operated position. Naturally when the switch body lli is actuated clockwise by springI 5l contact arms 05 and i6 of the switch will be moved from contact engaging position into engagement with the respective stop pins and 52 thereby rendering the electric motor inoperative and stopping refrigeration.

-All adjustments are made initially so that when the evaporator has properly been-defrosted the element 'i6 will have cooled and contracted suiciently to so tension the thermal element that it will actuate the switch body di counterclockwise against the eiect of spring 5l thereby again actuating the contact arms 05 and e6 into circuit-making position to reestablish refrigeration. When the thermal element 202 thereby permitting the spring 200 to again exert its normal tensioning pressure upon the thermo-electric element '|6.

In the present invention applicants have provided an automatic control device for an electric motor, particularly used to drive refrigeration apparatus, this automatic control device regulating the operation of the-motor in accordance with temperatures -ambient to the evaporator of asmeeo `motor inoperative causing a cessation in refrigeration.

The invention also provides for a manual control operable to render the motor inoperative for defrosting purposes, which, when completed, causes the manual control to be released to set the device to its normal position for normal reirigeration control.

While the embodiment of the resent invention as herein disclosed, constitutes a preferred form, it is to be understood that other forms might be adopted, all coming within the scope of the claims which follow:

What is claimed is as follows:

l. In a device of the character described, the combination of an electric motor having starting and running circuits adapted to be connected to a source of electrical energy; oi a switch for controlling said circuits; thermo-electric means for eiecting actuation oi said switch in accordance with current ilow through said motor circuits; aY second thermo-electric means mechanically connected to the iirst mentioned thermo-electric means and adapted in response to current flow therethrough to move said first mentioned means to effect actuation or" the switch; a source of electrical energy connectedr to said second thermo-electrical means; and a thermal switch independent of and remote from the motor, in circuit with said second means and its source of energy for controlling the energization of said means by said current source in accordance with temperatures ambient only to. said thermal switch.

2. In a device of the character describedJ the combination with an electric motor having a starting and a running circuit adapted to be connected to a source of electrical energy; of a switch adapted to control said circuits; means tor actuating said switch in accordance with current .dow through both motor circuits; a thermo-electric member mechanically connected to said switch actuating means for actuating the switch through said means; and a control circuit connected to the thermo-electric member, said circuit including a winding of an energy translating device ied from the source of electrical energy and a thermal switch independent of and remote from the motor, said thermal switch controlling the energization or the thermo-electric member by the energy translating device in accordance with temperature conditions ambient only to said thermal switch.

3. In a device of the character described, the combination with an electric motor having starting and running circuits adapted to be connected to a source of electrical energy; of a switch in said circuits; thermo-electric means effecting actuation of said switch in accordance with current ilow through said circuits; a member mechanically secured to said thermo-electric means and adapted bodily to move said means to eiiect actuation of the switch; and means remote from the motor, comprising a transformer having a. circuit connected to the source of energy and another to said member and a thermal switch connected to said member and adapted to render said transformer effective to energize said member to actua-te the thermo-electric means in response to temperature variations ambient to said thermal switch.

4. Control apparatus for an electric motor having starting and running windings adapted to be brought into circuit with a source or" electrical energy; a switch for opening and closing the-cir cuits of both said windings; a temperature re= sponsive actuator for said switch, in circuit with both said windings and rendered eiective by variations in current iiow through said windings; a thermal member mechanically connected to said actuator and adapted to exert a push or pull upon said actuator for moving the switch to open or close the motor circuits respectively; a transu former having one circuit connected to the source of electrical energy and the other circuit conx nected to the thermal member and adapted. to energize and heat it whereby said member will expand to exert a push on said actuator; and thermal switch, remote from and independent of the motor, and circuit with the transiorr er and thermal member and adapted to control the cnergization oi said thermal member in accordance with varying temperatures ambient to said thermal switch only.

5. Control apparatus for an electric motor havu ing starting and running circuits adapted to connected to a source or" electrical energy; therd monelectric switch for controlling said circuits in accordance with current flow therethrough; a thermo-electric member; a transformer co1 ected to said source or energy and to said member for energizing said member to effect expansion thereof; a thermal switch remote from the motorin circuit with the thermo-electric member for controlling the effect of the transformer on said member in accordance with Itemperature variations ambient to said thermal switch; and a lever mechanically connecting the thermo-electric member with the thermo-electric switch for actuating the latter in accordance with actuation or" the thermo-electric member.

6. In a device of vthe character described, the combination with an electric motor having start-n ing and running circuits adapted to be connected to a source ci electrical energy; a switch for controlling said circuits; vtwo thermo-electric actuators `for said switch, the rst being directly connected to the switch and acting only in accordance with current now through the motor te ein feet operation of said switch, the second actuator being mechanically attached to the iirst and adapted in response to current ow therethrough to eiect actuation of the switch by increasing or decreasing its pull on said rst actuator; a transformer having one winding connected to the source of electrical energy, the other Winding connected to said second actuator for energizing it; and a thermal switch remote from the motor and in circuit with the transformer and adapted to control its energization of the second actuator in response to and in accordance with temperature variations ambient only to said thermal switch.

7. Control apparatus for an electric motor having starting and running windings adapted to be connected to a source of electrical energy, of a switch having a thermal element in circuit with both windings of the motor and adapted in response to predetermined current flows therethrough to actuate the switch to control the starting circuit and to provide overload protection to the motor; and a separate circuit independent of the motor circuit adapted to effect operation of the switch by said thermal element independently of current conditions in the motor circuits, said separate circuit including a thermal member mechanically connected to said thermal element and adapted to move said .element bodily, a transformer in circuit with the sourceof energy and also with said thermal member 'for energizing it and a thermal switch remote from the motor and in circuit with the transformer and thermal member and adapted, in response to variations in temperature ambient only to said thermal switch, to provide recurrent electrical impulses in said transformer and thermal member.

8. A control device for an electric motor having starting and running windings adapted to be connected to a source of electrical energy,a

switch in circuit with said windings, a thermal element for. actuating said switch in response to variations in current flow through said windings; a thermo-electric member mechanically connected to said thermal element; a transformer having windings in circuit with the source of energy and 'with said thermo-electric member; a thermal switch in circuit with the transformer and the thermo-electric member and remote from the motor, said switch being adapted to render the transformer eiective to energize the thermoelectric member for bodily actuating the thermal element to actuate the switch in response to variations in temperature ambient to said thermal switch only; and manually operable means for adjusting the thermo-electric member to vary its current requirements and thereby also vary the temperature requirements ambient to the thermal switch necessary to effect actuation of the switch in circuit with the motor windings.

9. A control device for an electric motor adapted to be connected to asource of electrical energy comprising in combination, a switch having a thermo-electric actuator for operating said switch to control the motor in accordance with current ow therethrough; a, conductorl bar having one end anchored, the other end mechanically connect/ed to the said thermo-electric actuwith the source of energy and with said conductor bar and adapted to provide a current ow therethrough for heati-ng it to effect actuation of the switch to stop the motor; and a temperature responsive switch in circuit with said translating device and conductor bar and remote from the motor for controlling the translating device to render it eiective and ineffecti"e to energize the conductor bar in response to predetermined low and high temperatures respectively, ambient to said temperature responsive switch.

11. A control device for lan electric motor adapted to be connected to a source of electrical energy comprising in combination, a switch having a thermal actuator for operating the switch to control the motor in accordance with current ator and adapted to expand when heated; a

transformer having a winding connected to the source of energy and another in circuit with the conductor bar and adapted to energize and thereby lheat it; and a thermal switch remote from the motor and in circuit with the transformer and conductor bar and adapted to render said transformer elective to energize the conductor barto eect actuation of the motor control switch i-n response to a predetermined drop in temperature ambient to said thermal switch and to render the transformer ineffective, causing deenergization of the conductor bar to effect actuation of the motor control switch in response to a predetermined -rise in the temperature ambient to said thermal switch.

10. A control device for an electric motor adapted to be connected to a source of electrical energy, comprising in combination, a switch for controlling the operation of the motor; a thermoelectric member adapted to effect actuation of said switch in accordance with current iiow through the motor; a conductor bar adapted to expand i-n response to being heated, said bar being anchored at one end, the other end being mechanically attached to said thermo-electric member so as to actuate the switch through lsaid member; an electric translating device in circuit flow therethrough; a transformer connected to the source o f electrical energy; a thermal switch vremote from and independent of the motor and connected to the transformer to control its effectiveness i-n accordance with varying temperatures ambient -to said thermal switch; and a thermo-electric actuator mechanically connected to the thermal actuator of the motor control switch and electrically connected to the transformer circuit including the thermal switch and adapted to actuate the motor control switch through its thermal actuator in accordance with the operation of said thermal switch.

l2. A control device for an electric motor adapted to be connected to a source of electrical energy comprising in combination, a transformer having one of its circuits connected to the source of energy; a thermal switch remotefrom the motor, in circuit with the second transformer circuit and adapted to control the eiiect of the second transformer circuit in accordance with the varying temperature ambient to said thermal switch; a conductor bar anchored at one end, said bar being in circuit with the second transformercircuit and thermal switch and adapted to expand or` contract in accordance with current :dow-therethrough; and a motor control switch having an actuator adapted to operate said switch in accordance with current flow through the actuator and motor, said actuator being mechanically connected to the free end of said conductor bar which is thus adapted to move the motor control switch through said actuator and in respense to the varying temperatures ambient o the thermal switch.

13. A control device for an electric motor having starting and running circuits adapted to be connected to a source of electrical energy,'the combination 4with a switch for controlling said circuits; thermo-electric means in both motor circuits for actuating said switch inaccordancc with current flow therethrough; a second thermoelectric means independent o1e the motor circuits, connected to the first thermo-electric means and adapted to use it as a mechanical link to actuate said switch; a transformer connected to the source of energy for providing current flow to the second thermo-electric means to eiiect actuation of the switch; and a switch in circuitl with the transformer and second thermo-electric means and adapted to control current iiow from the transformer to the second thermo-electric means in accordance with temperature conditions ambient only to said last mentioned switch.

14. In a device of the character described, the combination with an electric motor having starting and running circuits adapted to be connected to a source of electrical energy; a switch adapted to control said circuits, said switch having a thermo-electric member adapted to actuate the switch in accordance with current flow through the motor circuits;I a pivoted lever having said 'thermo-electric member attached to its one end;

a conductor bar anchored at one end, its other end being secured to the other end of said lever, said vbar expanding or contracting in accordance with its temperature, a transformer connected to the source of energy and having a winding in circuit with said bar and adapted to energize it to heat it; and a temperature responsive switch, remote from the motor and in circuit with the transformer and bar and adapted to control energization of said bar by the transformer in accordance with varying temperatures ambient to said temperature responsive switch for effecting actuation of the motor controlling switch by the said bar acting through the pivoted lever and thermo-electric member.

15. In a device of the character described, the combination with an electric motor having starting and rimning circuits adapted to be cznn ected to a source of electrical energy; a switch for controlling said circuits;n a manually adjustable anchorage; a pivoted lever, two thermo-electric members, one of which is connected between one end ci said lever and the switch and being connected with both motor circuitsv and energized thereby for actuating the switch in accordance with current ow through said circuits, the other member being connected between the other end of the pivoted lever and said anchorage and adapted when energized to move said lever to actuate the switch through the said one member acting as a mechanical link; means independent of the motor and connected to the source of electrical energy for energizing said other member; and a thermal switch for controlling the eiect of said energizing means in accordance with temperatures ambient to said thermal switch 20 which is remote from the motor.

CALVIN J. WERNER. WILLIAM E. MENZIES. 

